Blood donor assembly



W. F. BUTLER ETAL Dec. 1, 1959 BLOOD DONOR ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 25, 1955 INVENTORS WILLIAM F. BUTLER RICHARD H. WILL ETECKHOF'F 5! SLICK ATTORNEYS 5y Zblu.) 0

THE F A MEMBEP a;

Dec. 1, 1959 w. F. BUTLER ET AL 2,915,062

BLOOD DONOR ASSEMBLY Filed April 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ffh za 1 h/zaINVENTORS WILL/AM F- BUTLER Ii 5.9 mam/2a H. WILL ET ECKHOFF 5s" SLICKATTORNEYS A MEMBER OF THE. F/z

United States Patent" BLOOD DONOR ASSEMBLY william-FeButler and RichardH. Willet, Oakland, Calif,

.assignors to Cutter Laboratories, Inc., a corporation of CaliforniaThis invention relates to apparatus useful for the transfer of fluidsand particularly to, a blood donor assembly.

The apparatus of the present invention is relatively simple andinexpensive to manufacture so that, for example, after a single use, itcan be discarded. At the same time, the apparatus is' easy to manipulateand is quite rugged; in addition, the apparatus of the present inventionis one in which the several components are of the same internal diameterso that blood flows through it with a minimum of agitation or mechanicalworking due to the absence of any constriction or enlargement. This lastis a matter of considerable importance in the collection of blood and inthe giving of blood in a transfusion.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage,'some ofwhich, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein thepresent preferred form of apparatus embodying the invention isdisclosed. Referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a parthereof:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus assembly.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the cannula prior to use.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section through the cannula withthe holder removed.

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly in section. through the intravenousneedle, while Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing themanner of manipulating the cannula.

Figure 6 is a front View of the cannula manipulating means.

Figure 7 is a front view of the cannula manipulating means with aportion thereof broken away, while Figure 8 is a rear view of thecannula manipulating means.

Figure 9 is a section through the cannula and a sheath utilized toprotect the cannula.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus assembly includes anintravenous needle 6, a cannula 7, the needle and the cannula beingconnected by means including a length of a flexible tubing 8. The tubingis preferably of a transparent plastic and, as will be observed, thetubing, the cannula, and the needle have the same bore diameter and areconnected without any enlargement or constriction.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, attachment of the flexible plastictube 8 to the cannula 7 is effected by slipping a portion of theflexible tube 8 over the end of the needle 7 and placing'a sleeve 9 overthe end of the plastic tubing and about a portion of the cannula 7immediately beyond the end of the tubing 8. The sleeve is then crimpedas at 10 and at 11, to engage the sleeve positively with the cannula ina tight mechanical fit and to compress an intermediate portion of theplastic tube 8 securely on the cannula.

The intravenous needle 6 is attached to the flexible plastic tube 8 inmuch the same manner by a sleeve 12; however, the sleeve 12 includes anenlarged tubular portion 14, which extends in spaced relation to theflexible tube 8, as appears in Figure 4, and provides a convenientPatented Dec. 1, 1959 needle in a tight mechanical fit while thecrimping 18,

compresses the intermediate portion of the tube against the needleshaft..

To assist in manipulation of the cannula, the end of sleeve 9 is formedwith a screw thread 19 and the latter is engaged with a cannula holdingand manipulating device, generally indicated at 21. This device isfashioned of a single strip of resilient metal bent upon itself,.as isshown particularly in Figures 6-8, to provide oppositely extending ears22 and 23, ear 22 being formed in position to be engaged adjacent thefirst knuckle of the forefinger on the hand of an operator, as is shownin Figure 5, while ear, 23 is adapted to be engaged with the end of thethumb. Immediately above the ears, the metal strip is joined upon itselfto provide a base 24 having spaced ears 26 and 27 provided at each endthereof to receive hub 9 on cannula 7. Bar 27 includes an aperture toreceive the forward portion of the hub while car 26 includes an aperturecooperating with the screw thread 19 and acting as a threaded receptacleinto which the hub can be screwed to provide a definite and posi tivemounting for the cannula 7 on the manipulating device 21. The rear endof the manipulating member 21 is bent into a rearwardly extendingportion 28, having a slot 29 therein through which the flexible tubing 8extends. The manipulating member 21 also includes an arcuately formedrearward portion 31 having a narrow V-shaped slot 32 therein into whichthe tubing can be.

while the other is obstructed with a plug 34 of cotton or the like sothat the atmosphere in the cannula, needle and tube may .be exhaustedand replaced by a sterile one and the apparatus maintained in a sterilecondition.

As is well-known and as is understood by physicians and others skilledin the art, it is customary to extend one needle of such a set into thevein of a donor; the opposite needle of the set is caused to penetrate asealed container, the interior of which is conveniently evacuated sothat a slight, negative pressure is placed upon the vein of the donor.Such a container is typically illustrated in Figure 5 by referencenumeral 36. The receptacle 36 includes a neck portion 37, closed by aresilient stopper 38, the latter having upper and lower faces 39 and 41with aligned pairs of recesses 42 and 43 positioned therein andseparated only by a thin resilient diaphragm 44. The material of whichthe stopper 38 is made is of such resilient material that cannula 7 canbe readily inserted while, upon withdrawal of the cannula, the materialimmediately seals itself.

When it is desired to use the apparatus, the tubing is drawn into theV-shaped slot 32 to prevent any flow in the tubing. The sterile coveringusually provided upon the stopper 33 is removed and the stopper furthersterilized, if desired; the sheath 33 is removed from the cannula 7,which is being gripped as is shown in Figure 5. The operator thenprovides a forcing pressure on the cannula sufficient to cause it topenetrate the diaphragm 44 and thus establish connection to the interiorof the sterilized container 36. The fingers of the operator grip readilythe base portion 28 and the side portion 24, while the end of the thumband the first joint of the forefinger provide adequate pressuresuflicient to force cannula 7 through-the resilient diaphragm 44. Thesite of the vena puncture is selected and the surface is sterilized inaccordance with the usual and well-known technique. The sheath 33 isthen stripped from the needle 6 and the latter is then inserted into thevein of the donor utilizing the sleeve 12 as the manipulating means.When the shut-off provided by the engagement of the tubing 8 with theV-shaped slot 32 is reelased, the interior of the tube 8 is placed underthe reduced pressure of the receptacle 36 and blood is caused to flowinto the vessel. This is continued for as long as desired. During thecourse of passage of the blood, a single continuous passage is providedwhich is free from constriction and enlargements. Therefore, the blood,in flowing through this passage, is not subjected to repeated changes inflow rate and is therefore free from any buffeting, accelerated flow ordecelerated flow; thus, the blood collected in the receptacle 36 is freeof any of the detriments which may attend such mechanical handling ofblood.

The flow of fluid through the tube 8 is readily controlled by forcingtube 8 into the V-shaped slot 32 in the rear of device 21. Cannula 7 isreadily withdrawn from the stopper 33 in the collection flask 36 byagain grasping the device 21 in the manner shown in Figure 5, thearcuately formed rear edge of the member enabling a rearward withdrawingpressure to be exerted readily.

From the foregoing, we believe it will be apparent that we have provideda novel, simple and improved blood donor assembly construction.

We claim:

1. In a blood donor assembly, a needle having a pointed end and anotherend, a tubing ensleeved in frictional engagement over the other end ofthe needle and a portion of the needle spaced from the pointed end ofthe needle, and a sleeve extended over the tubing from a position beyondthe other end of the needle to a position beyond the end of the tubingon the needle the sleeve being crimped adjacent one end into tightmechanical engagement with the needle and being crimped intermediate itslength to engage forcefully the ensleeved tubing with the needle, theend of the sleeve having a screw thread formed on the outer surfacethereof adjacent that end of the sleeve away from the needle end.

2. In a blood donor assembly, a needle having a pointed end and anotherend, a tubing ensleeved in frictional engagement over the other end ofthe needle and a portion of the needle spaced from the pointed end ofthe needle, and a sleeve extended over the tubing from a position beyondthe other end of the needle to a position beyond the end of the tubingon the needle, the sleeve being crimped adjacent one end into tightmechanical engagement with the needle and being crimped intermediate itslength to engage forcefully the ensleeved tubing with the needle, theend of the sleeve having a screw thread formed on the outer surfacethereof adjacent that end of the sleeve away from the needle end, and amanipulating device for mounting said needle and enabling an operator togrip the same to effect axial movement of said needle, said deviceincluding opposite spaced portions each having an aperture therein, oneaperture being adapted to receive said sleeve and the other aperturesecuring in looking engagement the screw thread on the sleeve.

3. In a blood donor assembly, a needle having a pointed end and anotherend, a tubing ensleeved in frictional engagement over the other end ofthe needle and a portion of the needle spaced from the pointed end ofthe needle, a sleeve extended over the tubing from a position beyond theother end of the needle to a position beyond the end of the tubing onthe needle, the sleeve being crimped adjacent one end in tightmechanical engagement with the needle and being crimped intermediate itslength to engage forcefully the ensleeved tubing with the needle, and amanipulating device mounted on said sleeve and including oppositelyextending arcuately formed portions adapted to be grasped by a thumb andforefinger on the hand of an operator to enable the operator to exertaxial pressure on the needle, said manipulating device including atapered slot therein for reception of the tubing to control fluid flowthrough the tubing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,682,874 Hickey July 6, 1954 2,689,564 Adams et a1. Sept. 21, 19542,712,822 Gewecke July 12, 1955 2,715,402 Wotton Aug. 16, 1955 2,716,982Ryan Sept. 6, 1955 2,722,932 Hickey Nov. 8, 1955 2,794,435 Stevens June4, 1957

